Horror specialist Michael Dougherty was probably the ideal candidate to direct this campy Christmas thriller about a demonic Santa Claus. Pulling a story from German/Austrian folk-lore, Krampus works up a head of steam as a family-get together is turned into a siege as the demon seeks to punish Adam Scott, Toni Colette, David Koechner and an over-qualified but undeniably game cast. Krampus attempts to provide the kind of evil knockabout of the first Gremlins film, dismantling notions of Xmas cheer in favour of malicious nastiness, and manages to hit most of its targets. For disgruntled mid-teens, Krampus probably hits the spot, delivering some laughs and a little gore with a festive cheerfulness.